Piland, Cougars take a beating, fall to SMU

Houston quarterback David Piland (8) is slow to get up after being knocked out of the game by a late hit from Southern Methodist linebacker Taylor Reed (44) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game at Ford Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, in Dallas.

DALLAS – The self-destruction by the Houston Cougars spared no one Thursday night.

Quarterback David Piland took the most crushing blow.

The Cougars committed nine turnovers and Piland left in the first half with a concussion as SMU delivered a thorough 72-42 whipping at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

SMU returned three interceptions for touchdown, a fumble on a kickoff for another and Garrett Gilbert threw a career-high four touchdowns as the Cougars allowed the most points in their 66-year history.

The Mustangs scored 44 points off turnovers.

"You can't turn the ball over nine times in a game and expect to win," UH coach Tony Levine said. "You can't have selfish and foolish penalties and expect to win. You can't have dropped passes and expect to win."

The immediate concern for the Cougars, however, is the status of Piland, who left the game with less than a minute remaining – and UH trailing 28-14 - after taking a shot to the chin by linebacker Taylor Reed. Piland stayed in the locker room in the second half.

"His health and well-being comes first," Levine said. "Our medical staff said he was out. When they say he's out, that's the last and final word."

With the score tied at 14, SMU scored 31 unanswered points in the span of less than five minutes between the end of the second quarter and 12:03 mark of the third quarter.

"That was embarrassing," Levine said. "We've got to get that corrected. Some of it is technique, some of it is coaching and some of it is personnel. We'll figure it out when we get back to practice."

The Cougars struggled in every phase. Dewayne Peace fumbled a punt in the opening minute that set up SMU's first touchdown. Ryan Jackson fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half that the Mustangs returned for a touchdown. Piland and backup quarterbacks Crawford Jones and Bram Kohlhausen each had interceptions returned for touchdowns.

When SMU's offense was on the field - they ran 34 fewer plays than UH – the Cougars defense had no answer. Gilbert might as well been in a La-Z-Boy recliner as comfortable as the Cougars allowed him to get. Pressure was no existent with one sack and only one quarterback hurry – a week after the Cougars sacked UAB quarterback Austin Brown eight times.

Gilbert, the former national player of the year who transferred from Texas during the offseason, was 23 of 38 for 265 yards and four touchdowns. Darius Johnson and Jeremy Johnson combined for 18 catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Zach Line had 113 yards – his 19th career 100-yard game – and two touchdowns.

"There's really no excuse," said defensive tackle Joey Mbu, who recorded his first career interception. "It happened. We just have to move on from this."

Running back Charles Sims provided one of the few bright spots for the Cougars with a combined four touchdowns. He caught seven passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns and also had two rushing touchdowns.

Jones, in place of Piland, was 17 of 33 for 252 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Daniel Spencer had seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown and Deontay Greenberry had six catches for 94 yards.

SMU took control in the final 1:40 of the first half. Gilbert found Jeremy Johnson open for an 18-yard touchdown. After a penalty on the ensuing kickoff, the Cougars were pinned at their own 8-yard line. Two plays later, Piland had a pass intercepted by Reed, who returned it seven yards for a touchdown.

SMU added four more touchdowns in the third quarter, including a 20-yard fumble recovery by Kevin Pope when Jackson fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half. Darrian Wright also returned an interception 10 yards for another score.

Gilbert ended the 31-point quarter with a pair of touchdown passes.

Fittingly, SMU put an exclamation on the rout when Stephon Sanders intercepted a Jones pass and returned 36 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

D.J. Hayden returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.